Within RDA Podravje – Maribor, the sector for research, development, and innovation is responsible for the active development of regional circular economy and is supported by the expertise of E-Institute.

In cooperation with different actors and networks in the Podravje region, RDA Podravje – Maribor and E-Institute are developing and implementing a circular systemic solution, which is outlined in the action plan of the Regional Strategy for Transition to Circular Bioeconomy of Podravje 2030. This strategy – also available in English – is the first regional-level strategic document of its kind to be adopted in Slovenia.

Urban rural predominance

Predominantly rural

Vision and objectives

There were 10 circular systemic solutions identified on the regional scale, with two that are considered implementation ready. One is a demo site within a Horizon 2020 project Circsyst, where the treated wastewater is used in agriculture (you can read more about it here). The other solution focuses on supporting the Podravje region in building a climate-resilient, circular bioeconomy by improving the use of locally available biodegradable resources and developing new regional value chains. This solution was selected to receive support under the CCRI. The following sections focus specifically on this initiative.

At the heart of this was a practical goal: close the local loop for biowaste and other biodegradable materials (including wood biomass and river sediments) by establishing a centre that can produce an organic fertiliser to regenerate farmland affected by decades of intensive agriculture. The plan also included producing a second product: a soil substitute for land remediation and raised gardens, using sediments and fertiliser.

The intended demonstration site was the Ptuj communal landfill site operated by the public utility company Javne službe Ptuj Ltd, using the existing facilities there as a springboard for wider regional transformation and as a visible example other territories could learn from. The pilot’s wider ambition was to help establish a regional programme for circular bioeconomy across 41 municipalities, supported by practical mechanisms that enable delivery (including work on funding approaches and awareness raising).

Implementation journey

The work began by tackling early barriers such as fragmentation and limited cooperation between municipalities and actors. A structured stakeholder process was put in place, combining a stakeholder analysis with sub regional workshops and targeted bilateral discussions to build a shared vision and gather evidence on local initiatives and policies. Alongside this, the region mapped material flows and resource locations (for example, gathering data on waste streams and relevant facilities) to create a solid evidence base.

To move the biofertiliser project from concept towards delivery, the pilot secured specialist advisory support and developed a comprehensive feasibility study. Green Assist support started on 1 November 2024 and ran until the end of April 2025, engaging two experts (one focused on technology/legal aspects and one on finance/economics) to produce a final technical design and establish the project’s economics. In parallel, the pilot explored funding pathways by submitting proposals under Horizon Europe calls (including one submitted in 2023 and another in 2025) and engaging with financing and advisory bodies. In spring 2025, the region engaged with the European Investment Bank and joined the Circular City Advisory Programme under the Circular City Centre to further mature the solution towards financing and build regional capacity to apply the same investment readiness approach to future circular solutions.

Key results

A major outcome was that Podravje, previously lacking a guiding framework, developed its first regional strategy for circular bioeconomy, complemented by an action plan that set out a pipeline of concrete projects aligned with regional priorities. For the biofertiliser centre itself, significant progress was made in preparing the ground for delivery, including a full techno economic feasibility study covering both the technical design and a business model, and positioning the solution at the pilot demonstration stage (with further testing and validation still needed at pilot scale).

The work also generated strong engagement: 104 stakeholders were mobilised through strategy and action plan development and broader activities, and seven strategic alignment meetings were held specifically on the biofertiliser solution to align partners and refine both the technical and financial direction.

Deliverables and outputs

Key outputs included: a regional circular bioeconomy strategy and a related action plan with a set of region specific circular projects; a defined concept for a biofertiliser and soil substitute solution integrating wood biomass, organic waste and river sediments; and a comprehensive feasibility package developed with Green Assist, covering technical design, financial feasibility (including value chain and cost benefit work), and business model development, alongside checks on “do no significant harm” compliance. The pilot also produced practical planning and monitoring materials (an internal roadmap updated throughout the support period, with the final update in October 2025), plus targeted recommendations and next steps on financing, business planning, stakeholder engagement, and project maturation.

Vision for the future

Looking ahead, the region’s stated ambition is that by 2030 it will regenerate 20% of its intensive farming areas through circular biofertilisers, and by 2032 reduce the use of artificial fertilisers in those areas by 20%. The roadmap sets out a forward pathway focused on finalising the product formula, securing permits and finance, and moving towards construction of the centre. The recommendations emphasise that, given the project’s current maturity, grant funding is best suited to support the next stage of pilot demonstration and validation, with wider financing routes becoming more realistic after successful pilot validation and stronger investment readiness.

Link to existing circular economy strategy and/or action plan

The implementation of the regional bioeconomy strategy relies on the organisation and operation of strategic project areas. These areas serve as pillars of circularity and efficient resource management, supporting Maribor's transition into a circular economy. The strategy focuses on the following activities:

1. the treatment of municipal waste and associated services;
2. the use of processed construction and demolition waste and soil in urban construction;
3. the management of surplus heat and renewable energy;
4. sustainable mobility – urban transport and joint services;
5. the reuse of recycled water and alternative water resources;
6. sustainable management of land and regeneration of degraded areas;
7. a cooperative economy network;
8. regional capacity building for the transition to a green and circular economy.

The strategy introduces an innovative urban circular economy system as the new business and economic model of the territory in the field of circular resource management. Such a model has not existed before and complements the principles of sustainable development and cooperative economy. The main goals of the strategy are to manage and use all material streams that the territory is producing and (re)use them for enhancing development on the principles of circular economy. Some of the goals are to raise the awareness of citizens about circular economy (CE), to support new business models in sharing economy, and to enable transition to CE in public and private sector.

Leading organisation

Regional Development Agency of Podravje – Maribor

Unit/department/section

Department for research, development and innovation

Participation in other relevant initiative

• Interreg Alpine space, Greencycle
• Horizon 2020, UPSURGE
• HuMUS, Healthy Municipal Soils
• Circsyst (no site created yet)
• Inertwaste
• INSET
• Digital Health in the Circular Economy (DICE)
• Cinderela – New Circular Economy Business Model for More Sustainable Urban Construction
• City water circle
• Urban soil 4 food
• Insight
• CE-HEAT
• CEFoodCycle
• VERDEinMED

In addition, several innovative start-ups have been supported though crowdfunding campaigns (via the E-Institute) and business incubators for innovative and development-oriented companies (via Styrian Technology Park).

Podravje is also part of initiatives like EURADA, ACR+, AER, and EUKI.

Other key resources

• Regional Strategy for Transition to Circular Economy
• Action Plan for Implementation of the CCRI Regional Strartegy for the transition to a Circular Bioeconomy